Brownie category gets a boost from new options

The nation’s brownie category is being fueled by new options, including gluten-free. The brownie sector is enjoying an upswing, as snacking and eating on-the-go have become a huge area of opportunity as consumers’ schedules continue to be flexible.

Expectations of gluten-free options have become the norm, according to Rich Products, which is why the company touts that its fully finished gluten-free fudge brownies will become an instant favorite for your consumers.

A wide number of innovators are bringing new brownie options to the table.

Killer Brownies feature high-quality ingredients like hormone-free butter, unbleached flour, and sustainably sourced cocoa. New products include dessert options for special dietary needs. For example, Killer Brownies now features the Plant Based Salted Fudge, a rich and fudgy plant-based brownie, made with creamy oat milk, that's finished with semi-sweet chocolate chips and a hint of sea salt.

Killer Brownie best sellers include the following:

• Cookie Dough Killer Brownie: Golden chocolate chip Killer Cookie™ dough and rich chocolate brownie are baked together with a layer of creamy caramel and extra chocolate chips.
• Kitchen Sink: Rich blonde brownie—mixed with rainbow sprinkles and topped with M&M's® and mini chocolate chips—is baked atop a decadent fudge brownie.
• Confetti Killer Brownie: Layers of rich vanilla blonde brownie, mixed with a custom blend of rainbow sprinkles, are nestled with creamy caramel and white chocolate chips in the center.

Girl Scouts special

Golden Dough Foods, a manufacturer of baked goods, has announced a new licensing partnership and nationwide launch with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). This collaboration features the iconic flavor of the beloved Thin Mints cookies in an on-the-go brownie format which began rolling out in early December at Sam’s Club stores nationwide.

This sweet treat captures the essence of the beloved Girl Scout cookie flavor in a whole new way, with a combination of rich, chocolatey brownie base with a burst of mint frosting and chocolate mint crumble topping.

“Partnering with Girl Scouts of the USA and Member's Mark on our Thin Mints brownies launch is a tremendous honor for Golden Dough Foods,” says Wil Torres, founder and chief executive officer of Golden Dough Foods. “We are thrilled to bring this iconic Girl Scout cookie flavor to millions of people who shop at Sam's Club. Our expertise in crafting delicious baked goods combined with the popularity of Girl Scout cookies will surely be a winning combination.”

The Girl Scout Thin Mints brownies, developed by Golden Dough Foods, is the beginning of what will be a multi-product lineup available at Sam’s Club locations nationwide and other retailers.

“We are excited to partner with Golden Dough Foods to create another great twist on the chocolate and mint pairing – a Thin Mints-inspired brownie,” says Wendy Lou, chief revenue officer for Girl Scouts of the USA. “We hope that when people enjoy this treat, they’re reminded of the millions of girls who earn entrepreneurship badges each year as part of our cookie program that makes Thin Mints so popular.”

Fudgy options

Snack and sweet lovers will be rejoicing before they even take the first bite of a new, decadent, fudgy brownie, unveiled by Otis Spunkmeyer. Melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips, baked into the dense brownies, ignite a craveable experience that will leave consumers wanting more.

The three-ounce brownie joins the Otis Spunkmeyer Double Fudge Chocolate Chip Brownie 1/4 Sheet in the long line of minimal labor, decadent snacks and sweets that are available from the company. The new brownies are individually wrapped, providing “grab and go” treats and underlining safety reassurances for customers, along with a zero-labor solution for in-store bakery, foodservice, C-Store, and vending operators.

In more developments, General Mills Foodservice has introduced Pillsbury™ Thaw & Serve Brownie Sheets, a convenient, low-labor solution to help operations turn out decadent desserts with fudgy, scratch-like quality. Available in full or half-sheet options, the no-bake brownies can be served as a standalone treat or customized for a variety of other desserts.

Pillsbury Thaw & Serve Brownie Sheets help foodservice operations meet growing consumer demand for indulgent desserts yet require minimal labor. Fifty-three percent of consumers enjoyed dessert the past day and 60 percent of operators reported that desserts help drive profits, which is why they are such an important and treasured part of daily menus.

The pre-baked brownies come in uncut sheets, which make them a versatile option for retailers, restaurants, cafeterias, catering and coffee shops to use in different ways to accommodate their menus. A parchment-lined trap also allows easy removal and serving.